A/N- I know this is a bit left field but really wanted to try and write the Glee characters in a different world and had this idea and thought why not give it a go. Would love your thoughts/opinions if you like or not. Thanks.

Rachel Berry sat on the wooden pier her legs dangling off the edge meters above the crystal blue water that was her family and her districts livlihood. Her gaze was cast out to where the boats currently fished the seas, the grandeur of the view was never lost upon her. Whenever she had free time she would walk down here and just watch as the men went about their jobs, hauling lines in the sea, setting the buoy's in place, the older men returning to the pier their days of hard labour on the boats over, but still fished off rods to make a living. She often found her voice down here and began to sing an old lullaby her mother used to sing to her as a child before she had passed away.

Baby dear, Mama's here,

watching over your slumber.

Dream, my child, until the dawn

Wakes the daisies on the lawn.

Dream you float in a boat,

Under starry heavens;

Dream of brooks and singing birds,

Scented breezes, tender words.

The sea breeze whipped through her hair and usually such a cool breeze would see her move and begin the walk back home, however today was reaping day. The usually vibrant scene of the ocean now was nothing more than a ghost town. There was no school today, nor were the fishermen at their posts instead today was the one day a year where everyone remained in the confines of their homes, fear of whose name would be picked and whose death was almost a certainty. District four has not had a victor for as long as Rachel could remember, there was never one her in lifetime. It was exactly a year ago to this day that Rachel remembered hearing the name Lauren Zises being read aloud by their district escort Emma Pilsberry. After the initial shot of relief had passed through her the recollection of that name sunk in, Lauren had sat beside Rachel in one of her classes. While she didn't know Lauren, the shock of knowing the individual virtually being sent to her death was something that had impacted her a lot more than she had thought it would, it was something too close to home.

Rachel had often pondered why Lauren's selection had impacted her so personally for someone she did not know. After months of anguish and confusion Rachel knew that she viewed herself as Lauren, she was upset for all the things that she would not have been able to experience or achieve in something only years of a life lived could offer someone. Rachel was not content to become a fisherman's wife, a homemaker of sorts, that life held not appeal to her. Instead she had her sights set much higher, something that despite her fathers pleas to forget just wouldn't subside, she wanted to leave district 4 and move to the Capitol as an Singer. Her love of music came from her mother, her father had no musical inclination and would always tell her of how her mother could light up a room with the sound of her voice. Rachel was determined to leave this fishing district behind and head to the Capitol where the bright lights and fashion forward citizens resided and while she longed to be there, she did not want to become like them. Their obsession for the Hunger Games where children were sentenced to death was something she could never nor would she ever understand - their thirst for blood in the form of entertainment was sickening.

A squark from an overhead seagull broke Rachel out of her thoughts, she turned back towards to the city and noticed the increased volume of Peace Keepers which could only mean the afternoon reaping was getting closer. She knew she needed to get back to her house, her father would be in a mad panic if she left it much later, she still needed to bathe and dress for the occasion. While she could have taken the short cut home through the side streets, she instead opted to go the longer route via the city main street which coincidentally was the location of Hudson's Fishing Supplies. She was optimistically hopeful that while passing she would be able to catch a glimpse of the Hudson's son Finn. They were both the same age and attended school together, Rachel knew she was infatuated with him, while knowing he did not even know of her had no-one she considered a friend at school, while Finn was friends with everyone, he was well liked and captain of the swimming squad. Their worlds had never collided not even through chance, all Rachel could do was watch from the sidelines, wondering if he would ever look over and see her.

Rachel flattened her hair down, the wind today was not going to let her win as it continued to blow hard as she began the walk into the town centre her hand gripped tightly in her fathers. The walk had been as silent as the dinner they had shared prior the closer they got the tighter their hands clasped together, the peacekeepers were abuzz as the families on the outskirts of the centre said their goodbyes.

"I'll see you tonight" her father gave her hand one more reassuring squeeze.

"See you dad. Love you" Rachel turned and joined the queue to register her attendance for the quell.

"I know you don't I?" the girl turned and asked.

"We are in the same grade and have a class together." Rachel recognized Quinn who was in line in front of her, surprised she even knew her face.

"Berry, isn't it?"

"Rachel Berry"

"I've heard my dad talk about your voice, he often says he hears you singing down by the pier." Rachel's eyebrows popped in surprise at the mention of others discussing her singing, let alone the father of Quinn the Mayor of district 4.

"Well good luck today Rachel" as soon as their conversation had begun it was over just as soon. Rachel headed to the roped partition that was for the girls in her age group parallel to the boys where she couldn't help herself from searching for the familiar face of Finn Hudson. She spotted a group of red letterman jackets and knew instantly that she was looking at the back of Finn Hudson. She was taken aback when he turned to face her and his brown eyes locked directly with hers, she couldn't make herself turn away and it seemed that he wasn't eager to look away either when a loud crackle sounded through the air breaking their long stare as Rachel's eyes darted to the stage where Emma Pilsburry entered the stage. The sound of the anthem blasted through the make shift speakers indicating the beginning of the Reaping ceremony.